Grandiflora rose named ‘BAIcent’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of grandiflora rose,  Rosa  ‘BAIcent’, characterized by its clusters of double, high-centered blossoms on long, straight stems with apricot to pale yellow flowers that turn creamy white. Abundant flowers are present in May and June and recurrently throughout the season over dark green, satiny, bronze tinged foliage that is resistant to rose blackspot and powdery mildew. The new variety is readily propagated on its own roots and hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.

Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘BAIcent’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rosahybrida. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘BAIcent’. ‘BAIcent’ is a grandiflora rose suitable for use ingarden plantings.

The new cultivar of rose is a selection from a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor in Yamhill, Oreg. with a focus tocreate cultivars of roses with greater winter hardiness and improvementsin disease resistance combined with good flower quality.

The new variety of rose, ‘BAIcent’, designated as seedling No. 96R815,was selected among seedlings derived from a cross made in Yamhill, Oreg.in 1996 between the female parent, ‘MACivy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,362)and the male parent, designated No. R3412 (unnamed proprietary seedling,not patented). ‘BAIcent’ was selected as unique and budded ontounderstock in August 1997 and reselected by the inventor for itsdistinct characteristics in 2000.

The new cultivar has been asexually propagated by budding on anunderstock of ‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented) and by rooting of softwoodcuttings. Asexual propagation in Yamhill, Oreg., St. Paul, Minn., andLitchfield, Ariz. by these techniques have determined that thecharacteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new rose as observed for a period of five yearsin Yamhill, Oreg. and St. Paul, Minn. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘BAIcent’ as a unique cultivar of rose.

-   -   1. ‘BAIcent’ exhibits clusters of double, high-centered blossoms        on long, straight stems with apricot to pale yellow flowers that        turn creamy white when mature. Flower color is classified as an        apricot-blend by American Rose Society standards.    -   2. ‘BAIcent’ has dark green, satiny, bronze tinged foliage.    -   3. ‘BAIcent’ exhibits an upright oval shaped plant habit.    -   4. ‘BAIcent’ is a recurrent bloomer, blooming abundantly in May        and June and then recurrently throughout the season.    -   5. ‘BAIcent’ has shown excellent resistance to rose blackspot        (Diplocarpon rosae) and powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa        var. rosa).    -   6. ‘BAIcent’ is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.    -   7. ‘BAIcent’ is a vigorous grower and readily propagated by        softwood cuttings and grown on its own roots.

The new cultivar of rose can be readily distinguished from its parentsand other cultivars. The female parent, ‘MACivy’, a floribunda, hasflowers with a greater petal count that are pinker in coloration,exhibits a rounded plant habit and is everblooming. The male parent,Seedling no. R93412, a shrub rose, has light yellow colored semi-doubleflowers and lighter colored foliage. The cultivars ‘Prairie Sunrise’(not patented) and ‘Medallion’ (not patented) are the closest comparisonroses. They are both similar to ‘BAIcent’ in flower color, however‘Prairie Sunrise’ is a shrub rose with larger, fuller flowers an lightercolored foliage and ‘Medallion’, a hybrid tea rose, is taller, haslarger flowers and is everblooming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new rose, ‘BAIcent’, as grownoutdoors in trial blocks and containers in St. Paul, Minn. and Yamhill,Oreg. The photographs were taken of two to three year-old plants grownown their own roots.

FIG. 1 provides a view a view of a flower just beginning to open,

FIG. 2 provides a view of a flower almost fully open,

FIG. 3 provides a view of a fully open flower and a leaf, and

FIG. 4 provides a view of a mature flower.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newgrandiflora rose.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observedon two and three year-old plants grown outdoors under field conditionsin Yamhill, Oreg. and St. Paul, Minn. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida ‘BAIcent’.        -   Parentage.—Seed parent Rosa ‘MACivy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            8,362), pollen parent No. R93412 (proprietary unnamed shrub            rose seedling).        -   Blooming habit.—Abundant in May and June and recurrent            throughout the growing season.        -   Plant habit.—Upright oval shaped plant habit.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches 60 to 90 cm in height and 80 cm            to 90 cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 4 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—High degree of resistance observed to            rose blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae) and powdery mildew            (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosa).        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings, own roots.        -   Growth.—Vigorous and strong.-   Branch description:    -   -   Stem color.—Young; 144A suffused with 183B, maturing;            between 138A and 138B, mature wood; 197A with spots showing            through of 138A.        -   Stem surface.—Young; glabrous, adult wood; mostly glabrous            with bark-like ridges.        -   Thorns.—Triangular and slightly curved in shape, oval base,            average of 4 per 5 cm in number, an average of 9 mm in            length with a base 8.8 mm in length and 2 mm in width, color            is 185B suffused with 144B toward the tip.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaves.—Division is odd-pinnate, average of 8.5 cm in length            and 7.3 cm in width, internode length is an average of 5 cm.        -   Leaflets.—Average of 5 (range 3-5 or rarely 7), ovately            oblong in shape, rounded to cuneate base, broadly acute            apex, serrated margins, glabrous with satin sheen on upper            and lower surface, average of 4.1 cm in length and 2.7 cm in            width , color: young leaves upper surface; 144A, 144B, 146B            and 146C suffused with color between 185A and 187B (purple            is deeper on margin), young leaves lower surface; 146B and            146C suffused with 187B and 187C (purple is deeper on            margin), mature leaves upper surface; 137A maturing to 147A            suffused with 183B and 187B on blade and 187B on margin,            mature leaves lower surface; between 146B and 147 suffused            with 183B on blade and 187B on margin.        -   Rachis.—Average of 2.8 cm in length and 1.1 mm in diameter,            color of upper surface 144A with 145A between ridges            suffused with 182A, color of lower surface 144A.        -   Stipules.—Long and narrow with auricle facing outward,            average of 1.6 cm in length and 0.5 mm in width, color of            upper surface is 144A with stripes and solid areas of 146B            on auricle and 182A on middle ridge, color of lower surface            is the same as upper surface except closer to 146D near            petiole.        -   Petioles.—Average of 2.2 cm in length and 1.3 mm in            diameter, color of upper surface 144A with 145A between            ridges suffused with 182A, color of lower surface 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Corymbs of double flowers.        -   Flower number.—Average of 3 per lateral stem.        -   Flower fragrance.—Sweet rose scent.        -   Flower longevity.—About 3 to 5 days, depending on            temperature and sunlight exposure.        -   Flower type.—Double, shallow cupped.        -   Flower size.—Average of 8.7 cm in diameter and 2.8 cm in            depth.        -   Peduncles.—Stiff, average of 3.5 cm in length and 3.2 mm in            diameter, surface is glabrous with some short hairs, color            is color is 143B and 144A suffused with 144B.        -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape (pointed), medium to large in            size with an average of 2.7 cm in length and 1.6 cm in width            prior to opening, color 13A and 13B suffused with 31A and            31B, texture is glabrous with some short hairs, mostly            toward margins.        -   Sepals.—5, broadly lanceolate in shape, margin is entire and            ciliate with outer 2 sepals having foliaceous appendages in            pinnate pattern and center sepal having appendages on one            side, color of upper and lower surface 144A suffused with            144C and 185A, upper surface is tomentose, lower surface is            strigose, average of 3.1 cm in length and 6.8 mm in width,            apex is apiculate on 2 inner sepals and leaf-like on the            other 3, base is truncate, aspect is upright in bud stage            changing to horizontal when bud opens and reflexed in full            bloom.        -   Petals.—Average of 22, drop readily and cleanly, broadly            obovate in shape and curled at apex, upper and lower surface            is glabrous and satiny, entire margin, cuneate base, rounded            to truncate apex, average of 3.8 cm (range 2.8 to 4.1) in            length and 3.2 cm (range 2.7 to 3.5) in width, color:            opening flowers upper surface; between 10A and 11A, opening            flowers lower surface; 20A suffused with 31D, fully open            flowers upper surface; between 11A and 11B, fully open            flowers lower surface; between 16B and 16C with inner petals            suffused with 22B, end of bloom upper surface; primarily 4D            suffused with 155A, 4B and 5A, end of bloom lower surface;            primarily 9D suffused with 9A and 10B, base petal spot; 13A.        -   Receptacle.—Average of 7.6 mm in diameter and 1.2 cm in            depth when flower is fully open, urn shaped, glabrous with            some glaucous coating, color is between 144A with streaks of            60A on the side exposed to sun.        -   Pistils.—Average of 75, stigma is an average of 1 mm in            length, an average of 0.4 mm in width and 2A in color, style            is an average of 4.3 mm in length and 46A in color suffused            with 47B.        -   Stamens.—Average of 96, filaments are an average of 1.1 cm            in length and 17B in color, anthers are an average of 2.4 mm            in length, an average of 1.5 mm in width and 16B in color,            pollen is 21B in color.        -   Hips.—None have formed under the trial conditions.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of grandiflora rose plant named Rosa‘BAIcent’ as herein illustrated and described.